What Do Mormons Believe? – Page 37 – "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

Hating the sin, loving the sinner

When Jesus Christ was on the earth, he was criticized for eating with “publicans and sinners” (Matt 9:10-11). His opponents felt that he was being too friendly with people whose choices were not those of righteousness. However, Jesus consistently taught love for those whom we are not inclined to love (Matt 5:44). He showed us the example by his love for Roman invaders, thieves, harlots and other people whom he had every apparent reason to despise. An important aspect of the Savior’s example is that even though he loves all with an incomprehensible love, he “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance”. As members of His church, we seek to emulate this characteristic, which is summed up in the oft-quoted maxim “hate the sin, love the sinner.”

Of course this phrase isn’t strictly doctrinal, but it serves as a simple reminder of some very Christian practices. In our quest to emulate the savior we seek to become as he is: perfect, just and merciful (Alma 42: 15). Of course, we know that all men sin and “come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Yet we still cannot, as disciples of Christ, condone sinful practices, either in ourselves or others. For this reason we strive, as individuals, parents, friends, voting citizens and in all other capacities, to promote measures that encourage righteousness and discourage practices that go against the revealed will of God.

I personally find that understanding a person’s motives allows us to sympathize with them as individuals even though we do not condone their behavior. I think of Dostoyevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment”, in which the protagonist is a murderer and another main character is a harlot. Throughout the novel you discover that the murderer and the harlot are both very human—almost pitiable. They are motivated by such common emotions as individualism, helplessness, despair and caring. This understanding does not justify them for doing wrong nor does it exempt them from punishment (as shown in the end). However, committing ourselves to treating all people as humans with human motives and desires allows us to love them more fully.

Consistency

As you can see, Freddy Rodriguez consistently exercised his right arm, but not his left.

It has been difficult for me to come up with a topic to write on this month. There has been a lot of change in my and my family’s life in the last month. Change always brings adjustment for me—adjustment to a new schedule, new places, new activities. Interestingly, it is during these times that it is hardest for me to be consistent in those things that provide a solid foundation in my life, namely scripture study and prayer. However, it is consistently doing the right things in life that brings the richest of experiences and the greatest of blessings. By and large, one cannot experience the complete blessings of a commandment or good activity until it is done consistently.

When one is consistent at exercising for an extended period of time, exercise becomes an integral part of that person’s life. Sure, one may miss a day here or there, but consistent exercise over time brings benefits that can only be known and felt by that person. In the same manner, consistently adhering to God’s commandments, whether it is studying the scriptures daily, or being meek and lowly of heart continually, will bring blessings, peace, and joy that only that person can know.

If you don’t know what I am talking about, or have yet to experience the sweet fruit of consistency, pick a commandment that you could polish a little, or a good activity, like exercise, and live it daily. Do it consistently for a week, then a month, then 3 months, then a year. You will look back on that time and realize that you have truly changed, because something good; something God-like has become an integral part of you. In some small way you will have fulfilled Christ’s commandment to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 6:48).

The Living Christ

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued this declaration in January 2000 as their testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—”built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY		THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE

Choose Your Own Adventure: Experimenting on the Word

summer-peaches The other day I was visiting a friend and she had the most beautiful peach tree in the backyard. It grew enormous, sweet peaches—I ate three of them after we had lunch. I asked her which nursery she had bought the tree from and she said that she actually grew it herself—from a peach pit! She offered me one of the discarded pits from lunch and told me that if I wanted to grow a tree too, she would tell me what to do and help me whenever I needed it. I gladly accepted, anticipating an abundant supply of those divine peaches.

Her instructions were to take the peach pit home and bury it in a small pot. Give it plenty of water and sunlight. When the seedling gets to be about 6 inches high, plant it in a bigger pot. When it reaches 2 feet, transplant it outside where it will receive lots of sunlight and water. It seems like a lot more work and a lot more time than I originally counted on. I decide to…

the pit A.   Throw the seed out the car window as I am driving home and resolve to just come by her house occasionally and ask for a bushel of peaches. (Go to {A})
B.   Take it home and plant it outside in the spot where I am eventually going to put it in the yard and save myself a few steps. (Go to {B})
C.   Take it home and plant it in the small pot and water it faithfully for a few days. At least, as long as it’s still interesting to me. (Go to {C})
D.   Take it home and do exactly as she says. (Go to {D})

{A} As I throw the seed out of my window, I think—how would I know if this particular peach pit was even going to germinate? I’m pretty sure it was faulty. If she asks, I’ll just say it never came up, so would she mind just sharing her peaches once in a while? I just saved myself a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, my friend moves away the following year and my peach supply ends. (Matthew 13: 4, 19).

{B} I take the seed home and wonder if it is even a viable peach pit—will it germinate? Or did she just get lucky with her peach pit? Maybe she wasn’t even telling me the truth about growing her pit into a tree! I talk to a lot of my friends about it, we look stuff up on Wikipedia about peaches and what the likelihood is of them germinating. I go to cherry growers websites, too (they are also stone fruits), to see if they have hints or facts about growing peaches. I discuss it with people in the supermarket line. I’m getting a lot of good information about peaches and I think I’m almost an expert on them. I guess the time is right for me to have my own.

I decide just to plant it in the yard and see if it comes up. I’m not going to bother with all the fussy details. I plant it and, mercifully, the rain and sun cooperate. One day as I’m out playing with my toddler in the yard, I notice a little seedling unfolding in the sun–the peach tree! The only problem is that it is surrounded by thick Texas grass and weeds. I check on it occasionally, but after a few weeks, the grass and weeds have won the battle for water and sun and the seedling is gone. Hmm, I guess I should have just planted it inside like she said. Turns out it was a good pit. Unfortunately, my friend moved away before peach season came again and I didn’t get another chance to try it. (Matthew 13: 7, 22)

{C} As I leave her house, I am so excited and empowered by the idea that I could seedling grow my very own peach tree! I’m going to start a blog about it! I’m going to take pictures every day to show the progress! And maybe I will be able to find a little ruler that I can plant right along with the pit and then I can tell how much it is growing every day. What should I name it? Tabitha. Definitely Tabitha. Full of adrenaline, I rush right in and find a small pot (my first attempt at ceramics in 9th grade), fill it with potting soil and plant the seed. I faithfully water it for a week. Then less faithfully the next week. Then we go on vacation for three days. When I get home, I have kind of forgotten about it and it never really gets to be part of my daily schedule, besides, now I am too busy teaching myself Tae Kwon Do from YouTube tutorials. Two months later, as I do the dishes, I look up and see it there. Brown and lying in the dirt. The sun and drought has fried it. Poor Tabitha. I just got really busy. (Matthew 13: 5, 20-21; Alma 32: 38-40)

{D} As I leave her house, I am excited about the possibility of having my own peach tree, growing right out my back door. I already have a pot on my window sill with some dirt in it from another plant that didn’t survive the winter. Maybe this tree will be luckier. I decide to empty the old dirt out and put in some fresh, moist potting soil. The kind with MiracleGro right in it. This little pit needs all the help it can get. Then I put it back up on the windowsill and remind myself that every time I make dinner, I will give it a little drink. As soon as it is part of my schedule, it is easy to take care of. My kids and I watch the little sprout grow and grow with fascination.

After a few months, we put it in a bigger pot and it continues to grow. It only takes a year and a half to be hardy enough to plant outside. A year and a half! And now we’ll have fresh peaches each summer for the rest of our lives, if I continue to care for it. I’d say it was a solid investment of time. Good thing I did, too, because my friend moves away the next year and her peach tree is razed when the new owners take over the house. We still talk about gardening stuff on the phone though. It’s so great to have that in common. As soon as my tree starts producing, I plan to send her a peach pit so she can grow her own again. This particular variety is sweeter than any other I’ve tasted. (Matthew 13: 8,23; Alma 32: 28-37).
Our own peach tree

If you are wondering what in the world I am talking about, read Alma 32: 28-43 and Matthew 13. A gospel-centered life is a lot sweeter than peaches. I know that it is viable and will germinate if you give it a sincere chance with diligent effort. You can know the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true fairly quickly (a sprout), but to be able to stand on your own testimony takes a little time (say, a year and a half of dedicated effort) and finally receiving the fruit (a life changed through Jesus Christ) can take even longer, though I promise that it is worth the effort.

“And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Then, my friends, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.” (Alma 32: 42-43)

Patriotism

As individuals, we are citizens of our own respective country, wherever in the world that may be. A summary of our beliefs toward nation can be stated, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (12th Article of Faith). While living in our own country and dealing with others as well, we ought to act in accordance with the laws that exist. A governing power, when applied righteously, is crucial to provide the protection, support, and social stability that are absent in an anarchist state. For this, “we believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man” (D&C 134:1).

This can be a sensitive issue and there have been those that break laws in the name of religion or those that are oppressed under unjust laws. To the first, the Lord says, “Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land” (D&C 58:21); and to the latter, we are encouraged/commanded to take part in the governing process where we can. In church, I have been reminded to take part in the national election as a citizen, not as a member of my church. Taking part in national and local elections means more than merely voting, it means studying the issues, discussing them and making a decision based on my conscience and what I believe will yield the best possible outcome for the community and society. It is the responsibility of the people to see that they are represented in government. If they are not, then proper and righteous means must be used to remedy the situation.

I love the country where I live. I respect the freedom that it ensures to me and others. I lived in Brazil for two years and I found that the people there also loved their country in a similar way, and I respect that. Each person should be thankful for their blessings and love their homeland. We are aware that no government is perfect and that political squabbles can often be a grim shadow over our expectations, but our love translates into a desire to improve our nation, so that our children and grandchildren can experience that same love for their country.